Our Dole® Story
Dole Sunshine For All A Brighter Day For All
We believe in the feel-good positivity of fruit, and what’s more, we’ve wholeheartedly dedicated ourselves to delivering it. This spirit of radiance, joy, and optimism connects us to our roots and continues to propel us forward today, as we find new and future-focused ways to fulfil our promise to as many people as possible.
Musa Fabric
As part of our Dole Promise towards zero fruit loss and reduced landfills necessary for carbon neutrality, Dole Sunshine Company has partnered with social enterprise Musa Fabric to turn banana waste into fibres of purpose through a partnership creating fashion products, woven by marginalized communities. We believe that by putting the prosperity of people and the planet at the heart of everything we do, the sun shines brighter for us all.
Malnutrition Labels Food Waste
After a large-than-life activation earlier in the year, projecting Malnutrition Labels on the sides of New York, Los Angeles and Baltimore buildings, Dole and City Harvest are getting the word out in a small but most relevant space, New York’s trash bins. By presenting New Yorkers with this information, we hope to #ChangeTheFacts and reduce food waste in New York City and across the country.
The Growing Distance
We believe good nutrition is a human right. That’s why we’re striving to put healthy food within reach for all. Join us to build a brighter future and learn how we’re sparking conversation and action to help close the gaps in nutrition access, affordability, and acceptability.
Malnutrition Labels
Malnutrition isn’t specific to one city, one region, or one country. It doesn’t discriminate based on ethnicity or age or gender identity or socioeconomic status. We believe good nutrition is a human right. Join us to change the facts.
Our History
The Beginning: 1851
In 1899 James Dole arrived in Hawaii with $1000 in his pocket, a Harvard degree in business and horticulture and a love of farming. He began by growing pineapples. After harvesting the world’s sweetest, juiciest pineapples, he started shipping them back to mainland USA. To enable as many people as possible to enjoy this delicious fruit, he developed a technique for canning them. He wanted to make the sunshine and taste of Hawaiian pineapples available for everyone. This is how he built the Company: on a reputation of quality. And it remains true to this day.
Key Milestones: Early Days
1851: The foundations of Dole are laid as Samuel Castle and Amos Cooke, originally from Boston, set up their trading company in Hawaii.
1899: James Drummond Dole comes to Hawaii, fresh out of Harvard’s School of Horticulture & Agriculture.
1901: James Dole begins growing pineapples in Wahiawa, on Oahu Island, Hawaii. He establishes the Hawaiian Pineapple Company, making the name “Hawaii” synonymous with “pineapple.” Dole pledges his commitment to quality: “We have built this company on quality, and quality, and quality.”
1907: Dole relocates his pineapple cannery to Honolulu and places advertisements in U.S. magazines, launching one of America’s first nationwide consumer advertising campaigns.
Key Milestones: Early Days, Cont.
1911: A Dole engineer, Henry Ginaca, invents a machine that peels, cores and cuts pineapple at the speed of up to 100 pineapples per minute. The Ginaca is now an industry standard.
1915: The Hawaiian Pineapple Company becomes Hawaii’s second largest industry.
1925: Dole organises a recipe contest, with the winning recipe for Pineapple Upside-Down Cake featured in a cookbook. The dish becomes widely popular.
1932: Castle & Cooke acquires 21% ownership of the Hawaiian Pineapple Company.
1933: Recognizing the popularity and quality associated with James Dole’s name, the company begins stamping “DOLE” on cans of pineapple and pineapple juice.
Key Milestones: 1960s – Today
1961: Dole merges with Castle and Cooke and keeps the DOLE brand.
1963: Dole Philippines, operating as Dolefil, is established to grow pineapples in the Philippines.
1985: David Murdock takes over Castle & Cooke, which owns pineapple and banana producer, Dole Food Company.
1986: The Dole logo is redesigned. The bright yellow sunburst is chosen, signifying freshness, quality, wholesomeness and good-tasting products.
1991: Dole launches the “Dole 5 A Day Program” to encourage young children and their families to eat five or more daily servings of fruits and vegetables.
Key Milestones: 1960s – Today, Cont.
1995: Dole’s global reach extends to more than 90 countries with a product line of over 170 fresh and packaged food products.
1999: Dole introduces Fruit Bowls®, the first all-natural fruit snack in a plastic cup.
2004: Dole acquires JR Woods (frozen fruits) in the US.
2007: Dole is named to “World’s Most Ethical Companies” list by Ethisphere Magazine.
2011: Dole acquires berry grower and marketer, Sunny Ridge Farms.
2013: Dole completes sale of Worldwide Packaged Foods and Asia Fresh Businesses to Itochu Corporation.
2020: Dole Packaged Foods launches Sunshine for All Cities program with the Boys and Girls Club of America.
2021: Dole Packaged Foods opens new frozen facility in Georgia.
2023: Dole Packaged Foods brings 11 new innovations to market.
Our Committment to Quality and Innovation
Today, Dole is a global leader in the fruit and vegetable industry, renowned for its unwavering commitment to quality, innovation, and sustainability. Founded in 1851, Dole has pioneered advancements in the industry and continues to seek new ways to improve its products and processes. Operating in over 90 countries, Dole remains dedicated to health and wellness, offering nutritious and delicious products to consumers worldwide.
